POUNCER- a multi use, adaptable platform.

In the first of our regular Windhorse team blogs, Phil Harrall our CEO talks through the concept of the Pouncer from the beginning, and why it's original format as a versatile carrier is so important.

By: P.A.R.Harrall CEO of Windhorse Aerospace Limited

'From the outset, POUNCER has always been thought of, by us, as multi-purpose. The original concept was to
provide ‘food from the air’, and while that's still vastly important, flexibility is the key to everything in aviation. We therefore
looked into medical aid, including the use of transporting vaccines, general aid such as blankets and clothing
and allowing a mixed load of all of these aid packages. From talking with the World Food Programme, Oxfam
and other NGO’s it’s the flexibility of POUNCER and its carrying capability that has their interest.

The Autonomous Aerial Vehicle System (AAVS) comes in three sizes and is based on a common
clipped-delta shape, delivering low wing loading that can achieve a better than 8:1 glide ratio. The Mark 1 can
carry aid with an all Up Mass (AUM) of 20kgs, enough to feed 20 survivors for 1 day; Mark 2 airframes can carry
up to 50Kgs, (50 survivors for 1 day) and the Mark 3 a 100Kgs. Obviously the number of survivors at a given
location will drive the choice of air vehicle and the aid packages to be delivered.

Current analysis shows us that up to 20 Mark 2 POUNCER's (and even more Mark 1s) can be carried inside a
C-130 Hercules cargo aircraft, these air vehicles can then be flown into one location or several different locations
depending on what aid is required to each. Mark 2 air vehicles will have a glide range of in excess of 35 Kms.
The flexibility of mixed loads allows those organisations co-ordinating the relief effort the ability to mix and match
aid to those most in need. The Mark 3 has always been designed for catapult or balloon launch, and depending
on the choice of propulsion unit will have a range of 100Kms

Windhorse Aerospace is working alongside Frazer Nash Consultancy, and using the data supplied by the Centre
for the Epidemiology of Disasters (CRED) have focused on 3 regional scenarios, Mountain, Island and Area of
Conflict. In all 3 of these scenarios POUNCER has a massive role to play. In mountainous regions some
villages will be cut off for months with aid unable to be delivered by traditional means, but POUNCER can be
used to fly aid to different villages with suitable aid packages in such regions. With the Island scenario, we
thought of the damage caused to Haiti and how some areas, according to press releases, have still to receive
aid. POUNCER could be flown in by cargo aircraft or catapulted from a surface vessel. Mixed loads will also
offer greater flexibility in the the delivery of vital aid.

Areas of conflict are extremely challenging for the aid agencies, but with POUNCER's glide range of 35Kms the
dropping aircraft can ‘side step’ ground fire or may be able to launch POUNCER from the safety of another
country thus keeping the aircraft and aircrews safe as well as adherent to local airspace rules.

Flexibility is the key to success, and POUNCER can provide flexible mixed loads combined with an accurate
delivery system to provide necessary aid to survivors on the ground. A truly multi use and adaptable tool in any aid agencies arsenal. '